Short Summary

THE AMERICAN INDIAN CAPITAL CONFERENCE ON POVERTY MET IN WASHINGTON OVER THE WEEKEND AND SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY OF MINNESOTA TOLD THE OPENING SESSION ON 9 MAY THAT THE AMERICAN INDIAN RESERVATION COULD BECOME THE PROVING GROUND FOR PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S "WAR ON POVERTY." ABOUT 400 DELEGATES - LARGELY INDIANS - ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE.

Description

THE AMERICAN INDIAN CAPITAL CONFERENCE ON POVERTY MET IN WASHINGTON OVER THE WEEKEND AND SENATOR HUBERT HUMPHREY OF MINNESOTA TOLD THE OPENING SESSION ON 9 MAY THAT THE AMERICAN INDIAN RESERVATION COULD BECOME THE PROVING GROUND FOR PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S "WAR ON POVERTY." ABOUT 400 DELEGATES - LARGELY INDIANS - ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE. THE COUNCIL SEEKS TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON SOME 400,000 INDIANS WHO ARE SAID TO FACE UNEMPLOYMENT, LACK OF EDUCATION, POOR HOUSING AND DISEASE.

HUMPHREY SAID THE CONDITION OF THE INDIAN "IS A MIRROR OF THE POVERTY PROBLEM FACING THE UNITED STATES."
ROBERT BURNETTE, AN INDIAN LEADER, SAID NINE THOUSAND INDIAN CHILDREN HAVE NO CLASSROOM SEATS AND THE AVERAGE INDIAN INCOME IS ABOUT 1,500 DOLLARS A YEAR.